Representatives from the ten EUNICE universities gathered in Sweden to define strategic priorities, strengthen academic cooperation and prepare the alliance’s future development.
From 22 to 24 September, representatives from the ten member universities met at Karlstad University, Sweden, for the EUNICE General Assembly. Rectors, vice-rectors, coordinators, project leaders and students came together to discuss the alliance’s strategic priorities and define the next steps in its development as it prepares for the upcoming European Universities Initiative call.
The General Assembly served as a major milestone following the feedback recently received from the European Commission regarding the final year of the current project. Building on this feedback, representatives discussed how EUNICE can strengthen its achievements while refining its long-term vision and strategic ambitions.
A significant part of the meeting focused on the alliance’s future direction and preparations for the next European Universities Initiative proposal, which will be submitted after the turn of the year. Discussions led to a shared understanding of the alliance’s priorities and key activities for the coming years, while work also began on developing the first draft of the new application.
„The discussions in Karlstad marked an important step in shaping the future of EUNICE. Building on the progress achieved so far and taking into account the feedback from the European Commission, we further clarified our shared vision and ambitions for the next phase of the Alliance. The strong commitment of our member universities and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the General Assembly provide a solid foundation for EUNICE’s continued development and for the preparation of the next European Universities Initiative proposal,” says Dr. Magdalena Sikorska, Secretary General of EUNICE AISBL.
Student engagement remained a central theme throughout the General Assembly. During discussions between the rectors and the Student Advisory Board, student representatives highlighted key priorities, including early student involvement in decision-making processes, greater inclusivity across alliance activities and a continued commitment to sustainability.
Strengthening the academic dimension
Another highlight of the meeting was a collaborative workshop involving vice-rectors for education and representatives from Work Package 2, which focuses on EUNICE’s academic offer. The workshop explored how member universities can further develop and promote their excellence programmes, contributing to a stronger and more integrated educational portfolio across the alliance.
These discussions reflected EUNICE’s continued ambition to enhance educational cooperation and provide students with high-quality learning opportunities across the alliance.
Throughout the General Assembly, several parallel meetings and workshops took place, bringing together representatives working within areas such as research, innovation and mobility. Participants reviewed ongoing initiatives and explored new opportunities for collaboration across the alliance. Today, EUNICE offers a wide range of opportunities for students and staff, including shared courses, microcredentials, mobility programmes and seed funding schemes that support joint research and educational projects.
New leadership
The General Assembly also marked an important moment for the governance of the alliance. During the meeting, the EUNICE AISBL General Assembly elected Prof. Teofil Jesionowski, Rector of Poznan University of Technology, as the new President of EUNICE AISBL. The alliance also elected Prof. Maria Figueiredo, Pro-President for EUNICE at the Polytechnic University of Viseu (Portugal), as President of EUNICE Board of Directors, and Prof. Gabriel Moncalián, Vice-Rector for University Transformation at the University of Cantabria (Spain), as Vice-President. Read more about the elections here.
As EUNICE moves towards the next European Universities Initiative call, the General Assembly in Karlstad demonstrated the alliance’s continued commitment to deeper cooperation, academic excellence and a shared vision for the future of European higher education.
